Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS):
To sustain the reforms brought in by the ongoing scheme of ‘End to End Computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Operations’ the Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India has launched a new scheme namely
"Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS)” w.e.f 1st April 2018 for implementation in all States/UTs. In this regard, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with 26 States/UTs,
so far, for the implementation of IM-PDS scheme.
The main objective of the scheme is to introduce nation-wide portability of ration card holders under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), to lift their entitlement foodgrains from any FPS of their choice in the country without the need of obtaining
a new ration card, by integrating the existing PDS systems/portals of States/UTs with the Central systems/portals under Central Repository of all NFSA ration cards/beneficiaries. The creation of a Central Repository of all ration cards/beneficiary data of
all States/UTs shall ensures that no duplicate ration card/beneficiary exist in any State/UT under NFSA.
Keeping in view the physical progress under the End-to-End Computerization scheme and readiness for implementation of Inter-State/National Portability, the same shall be started on pilot basis in few States/UTs each shortly. Further, as and when other States/UTs
achieve the requisite readiness for the implementation of scheme, it will be added on the National Portability platform, i.e. Public Distribution System Network (PDSN) to provide the benefit of national/inter-State portability to the ration card holders under
NFSA. Presently, intra-State level portability is operational in 10 States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura for the benefit of ration card holders to lift the foodgrains from any
FPS within the State. 3 States of Utter Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have introduced intra-State level portability partially in few FPS areas/districts.
Besides national portability, following are some of the other key focus areas of the IM-PDS scheme:
i. National level de-duplication of all ration cards/beneficiaries’ data.
ii. Integration of States/UTs PDS systems/applications with Central PDS systems/applications.
iii. Use of advanced data analytics techniques to bring about continuous improvements in PDS operations.
iv. Development of advanced web and mobile based applications.
v. Facilitation of cross-learning and sharing of best practices between States/UTs, etc.